Two Calgary men are facing numerous charges after what police are calling a bogus armed robbery in late September of this year.

The alleged fake robbery took place on Sunday September 25 at 11:40 p.m. Calgary police were called to the Esso gas station at 13615 Bonaventure Drive S.E. for reports of a violent robbery. When police arrived the victim told officers that he was robbed by a masked man who pushed him to the ground, punched him and put a knife to his throat. He also told investigators that he was forced to open the coin release.

While investigating the robbery police staged a Crime Stoppers re-enactment to try to find the person responsible for the robbery. But after several interviews and follow-up investigative work, officers have now determined that the robbery claim was fake and the alleged robbery was staged.

Bilal Ahmed, 24, of Calgary has been charged with conspiring to commit and indictable offence, theft and falsely reporting a crime. Abuzar Jamani, 20, also of Calgary has been charged with conspiring to commit and indictable offence, theft, possession of a weapon or imitation dangerous to the public and wearing a disguise.